^ ^ Jack Grealish injury blow as Everton learn how long he will be sidelined for

Everton’s on-loan star Jack Grealish is out for an extended period of time (Picture: Getty Images)

Jack Grealish has suffered a serious foot injury which is expected to keep him out of action for a number of months.

The 30-year-old is on loan at Everton from Manchester City this season and quickly became a hit with fans on Merseyside.

The England international has scored twice and provided six assists, with Everton sitting 10th in the Premier League after victory at Aston Villa last time out.

Grealish played the full match in that impressive 1-0 win at his former club, but it has since emerged that he has picked up a concerning injury.

On Tuesday, Everton posted a statement which read: ‘Everton can confirm Jack Grealish has sustained a foot injury.

‘Jack is currently under the care of the club’s medical team and will also be reviewed by a specialist in the coming days. Further updates will be provided in due course.’

It has since been reported that the foot injury is a bad one which could keep Grealish out for most of the rest of the season.

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Grealish has been a hit with the Everton fans (Picture: Getty Images)

The Athletic report that Grealish has suffered a ‘suspected stress fracture’ in his foot and is likely to be sidelined for ‘a number of months’ as a result.

He will be seen and advised by a specialist this week and a more specific return date will be learned.

It is a huge blow for Everton and for the player, who had an outside chance of returning to the England squad in time for this summer’s World Cup.

Jack Grealish in the Premier League at Everton

Apps: 20

Goals: 2

Assists: 6

Grealish has won 39 England caps but has not played for the Three Lions since 2024 and has not been capped under current boss Thomas Tuchel.

There is great competition in wide areas and the number 10 slot, but the on-loan star was hopeful that he could force his way back into the England scene by the end of the season.

This injury will now make that extremely difficult, if not impossible if he does not feature much or at all over the rest of the season.

David Moyes will be without Jack Grealish for some time (Picture: Getty Images)

Everton’s loan deal for Grealish includes an option to buy him from Manchester City in the summer which is worth £50m.

That would seem like a huge investment in a player who turns 31 this year, but it is very unlikely that the forward has any future at Manchester City, despite his contract at the Etihad running until 2027.

Everton are back in action on Monday night when they host Leeds United in the Premier League.

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^ ^ Real Madrid superstar urges Lucas Paqueta to quit West Ham for Flamengo

Lucas Paqueta wants to return to Flamengo, where he started his career (Picture: Getty Images)

Real Madrid superstar Vinicius Jr says he has been following the Lucas Paqueta transfer saga very closely, hoping the West Ham star will leave for Flamengo this month.

The Hammers star has made it clear he wants to leave eats London during the January transfer window and sign for the Brazilian giants.

The 28-year-old started his career at Flamengo and made his professional debut for the Rio de Janeiro side in 2016.

He left for AC Milan in 2019, before moving to Lyon and then West Ham in 2022.

Paqueta now wants to return home, and although the Hammers do not want to let him go amid a relegation scrap, negotiations are ongoing between the clubs.

Vinicius Jr, who also came through the ranks at Flamengo and played alongside Paqueta there and continues to do so for Brazil, is very keen for his friend to return to Rio.

Speaking after scoring in Real Madrid’s 6-1 win over Monaco on Tuesday, the 25-year-old forward was asked if he has been affected by the possibility of Paqueta returning to Flamengo.

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Paqueta and Vinicius have been teammates for club and country (Picture: Getty Images)

‘Every day!’ Vinicius told TNT Sports. ‘Every day I ask my managers, who are the same managers as him, I always send him messages too.

‘I wish him happiness. His happiness is mine, and Flamengo’s happiness is ours.

‘Now it’s going to be a complete package. God willing, in the next few days he can finalise this contract and have a great year to help Flamengo, obviously, and us in the Brazilian national team.’

Vinicius Junior left Flamengo for Real Madrid in 2018 (Picture: Getty Images)

ESPN report the London and Rio clubs are negotiating on price over Paqueta, with West Ham now willing to accept 45m (£39m) for the attacking midfielder.

That is a reduction of around £10m from their initial valuation, but still more than Flamengo’s offer of 35m (£30m).

Paqueta missed the win at Spurs at the weekend, with West Ham saying it was due to a minor injury, but manager Nuno Espirito Santo admitted he was ‘deeply concerned’ about his player’s situation.

‘Of course I am. Deeply. Like I am with all our players,’ he said of his concern over Paqueta’s future. ‘Here is one thing, we must and I think we have, we protect our own. First and foremost. This is what we are trying to do – protect our own and trying to find the best way.

Paqueta has scored four goals in 18 Premier League games this season (Picture: Getty Images)

‘The most important thing for the club is clear. Our best players must be available and helpful. I think there’s no doubt about the talent and the quality of Lucas. That’s not in discussion here. It’s just to take the best out of him.

‘Is he is in the right mindset to play for West Ham again? He needs to be. You have to understand that many things happened with Lucas.

‘Many things in the past. This problem that he had. I think the club support him through all these hard moments. First of all, he’s a person. We have to take care of that now. And we are doing it. Let’s wait and see.’

In July 2025 Paqueta was cleared of spot-fixing charges after an investigation which lasted nearly two years.

He was due to make a big-money move to Manchester City in August 2023, but the investigation came to light and the transfer was scrapped.

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^ ^ Inter Milan boss speaks out on Arsenal display: ‘There was some arrogance’

Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal enjoyed a memorable night at the San Siro (Picture: Getty Images)

Inter Milan manager Cristian Chivu was blown away by Arsenal’s performance in the 3-1 Champions League win on Tuesday night, saying the English side showed some arrogance in their game.

The Gunners faced a tough test as they went away to the side top of Serie A, and did so without the likes of Declan Rice, Gabriel Magalhaes and Martin Odegaard in their starting XI.

They were ahead after just 10 minutes through Gabriel Jesus, with Inter equalising thanks to Petar Sucic, but Jesus scored again in the first half, but Viktor Gyokeres came off the bench to net a third and complete a 3-1 victory.

It has been an immense Champions League campaign so far for Mikel Arteta’s side, winning all seven matches, scoring 20 goals and conceding just two.

Chivu was certainly impressed, feeling that the visitors were even able to be arrogant in their play in the San Siro, especially before the break.

‘They had more intensity, technique and pace, they occupied the space well, attacked the lines with intensity and speed, the same with the second balls, as they dive into every duel,’ Chivu said to Sky Sport Italia.

‘We tried to stay in the match, we played quite well in the first half and at 1-1 could’ve scored another. That doesn’t mean we would’ve gone on to win, but incidents do change the mood of the teams.

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Cristian Chivu was full of praise for the Premier League leaders (Picture: Getty Images)

‘We were also unlucky on that goal on a corner, where it bounced off the bar and onto the head of an Arsenal player.

‘In the second half, Arsenal raised the focus level and were also a little more humble, as there was some arrogance from them in the first half. They sat deeper, have physicality, and of course can bring players off the bench to raise the level further.’

Inter started their Champions League campaign with four straight wins but have now lost three on the bounce and are now scrapping to finish in the top eight of the group stage and avoid the play-offs.

Arsenal showed off their strength in depth in Milan (Picture: Getty Images)

Chivu had little doubt his team had just played one of Europe’s best, though, as he continued to praise the Premier League leaders.

‘When these Arsenal players come and surround you, they attack from all angles, they encircle you,’ he said. ‘I was so impressed with their technique with the ball moving at pace, they make the right choices and first touches, they have the speed of thought to find their teammates quickly and on the right [Bukayo] Saka can take men on to cause all sorts of problems.

‘We won a few challenges and went on the counter quite easily in those moments, but Arsenal have so much quality in their squad. I won’t point out how much money they spent, as that would be too banal, but the Premier League does have a very different type of intensity and pace to Italian football.

‘Some of us, including myself, are trying to introduce something more in that sense, the type of moves we want to see, but it’s not an easy process. We’ve got to maintain the belief that we are on the right track.’

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Arteta’s superb season continued, with the Arsenal boss thrilled he could rest some key players and still get an impressive win away to a good side.

‘We’re very proud, not only for tonight’s game but for what we’ve done in the competition so far in seven matches. With one game to go to be already in the position that we want to be,’ he said.

‘A massive prize to the team because we know how difficult it is. And then tonight it was a test. Probably we didn’t have the necessity in terms of the points, but we really had the hunger and the desire to come to a place like this against a top, top side and prove what we are and what we can do. And I’m really, really pleased with what I’ve seen.’

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^ ^ Inter vs Arsenal: Predicted lineup today and Champions League team news

Rice expected to start away in Italy (Picture: Getty)

Mikel Arteta will be expected to rest some of his key stars when Arsenal take on Inter Milan in the Champions League tonight.

It is another busy week for the Gunners who are in Italy tonight before hosting Manchester United back at the Emirates on Sunday.

Having won all games in Europe this season, Arsenal are three points clear at the top of the Champions League table, nailed on to reach the knockout stages with games to spare.

While it will be a huge test against last season’s runners up who currently occupy top spot in Serie A, Arteta may use it as an opportunity to rotate his squad.

Bukayo Saka started on the bench against Nottingham Forest on Saturday, coming on for the final half hour as his side chased a winner.

Arteta revealed post-match the England star was carrying a ‘niggle’ heading into the game and could be among those rested with Noni Madueke impressing in Europe when called upon this season.

Viktor Gyokeres has remained Arteta’s first choice up front despite his goal drought but the presence of Gabriel Jesus alongside his manager at Monday’s press conference would suggest the Brazil international will lead the line tonight.

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Jesus hopeful of starting in Italy (Picture: Getty)

Kai Havertz has come off the bench in two of Arsenal’s last three games having finally recovered from a knee problem but it may still be too soon for him to start. An appearance off the bench at San Siro could be more likely.

Elsewhere, Arsenal remain without Riccardo Calafiori and Piero Hincapie. Calafiori has not played since the game against Crystal Palace before Christmas while Hincapie picked up a hamstring issue in the goalless draw with Liverpool.

Max Dowman is also sidelined but Cristhian Mosquera could get his first minutes over six weeks having recovered from an ankle problem.

Eberechi Eze’s persistent absence from the team remains a head-scratcher, starting just one of Arsenal’s last seven. In four of those games he was an unused substitute, coming off the bench for the final 11 minutes against Forest.  

Arsenal XI to face Inter – Metro prediction

Martin Odegaard and Martin Zubimendi could also be rested this evening – particularly if Arteta feels this is the right game to bring Eze back into midfield.

Options to rotate at the back are limited but Christian Norgaard has slotted in at centre-half this season and could be used to hand either William Saliba or Gabriel Magalhaes a rest.

Inter vs Arsenal TV channel, live stream and kick-off time

Inter vs Arsenal kicks off tonight (Tuesday 20 January) at 8pm.

The match is available to watch live on Amazon Prime Video for subscribers.

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^ ^ Manuel Akanji aims dig at Arsenal over ‘best team in Europe claim’ ahead of Inter clash

Manuel Akanji joined Inter on loan from Manchester City during the summer transfer window (Picture: Getty)

Manuel Akanji has dismissed the suggestion that Arsenal are currently the best team in Europe ahead of tonight’s Champions League showdown against Inter.

Mikel Arteta’s side are sitting pretty at the top of the Premier League and are all but assured of a place in the last 16 of Europe’s premier club competition.

The Gunners boast a flawless Champions League record this term having won six straight games, including dominant victories over Atletico Madrid and Bayern Munich.

Despite being held to goalless draws in each of their last two league games, Arsenal still hold a commanding seven-point advantage over Akanji’s former team Manchester City.

The experienced Switzerland international, currently on loan at Inter, was a mainstay of the Pep Guardiola teams who prevented Arsenal from usurping them over the course of two particularly tight title races.

Akanji is set to feature this evening as Inter attempt to put an end to Arsenal’s European winning streak and the 30-year-old insists the north London club still have much to prove before they can be considered the best team on the continent.

He said: ‘They’re among the best in Europe, but not the best. I don’t think they’re stronger than Atletico Madrid or Liverpool. It’ll be a good match.

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Arsenal have won six out of six games in the Champions League so far this season (Picture: Getty)

‘Have they improved? I don’t watch much football anymore. I have three children at home and I already have a lot of football in my work.

‘They definitely have a lot of good players and they’re consistent, which is important to be competitive.

‘What does it take to beat them? Against the big teams, mistakes can be punished. We have to be effective in attack and clean in possession.’

Inter themselves, meanwhile, remain handily placed to qualify for the last 16 without and avoid a two-legged play-off.

Cristian Chivu has been impressed with Arsenal this season (Picture: Getty)

‘We’re facing a strong team, one of the strongest in Europe right now, and not only that, but also in previous years,’ said head coach Christian Chivu.

‘They’ve invested, they’re constantly improving. They have an identity, they have players who can cause problems.

‘They’ve been dominant in the Premier League in recent years, they barely missed a win, this year they’re top of the table and they’re having a great season.

‘We know the difficulties we face in the Champions League, what the competition is like and what English teams are like, but at the same time we’re aware of who we are, what we’ve become in recent years in European competition. We know how to approach these types of matches.’

Inter beat Arsenal 1-0 in the Champions League last season (Picture: Getty)

Chivu took over at San Siro in the summer after Simone Inzaghi departed following Inter’s crushing defeat against PSG in the Champions League final.

‘They have some different players in the team, a different coach as well,’ said Arsenal boss Arteta, whose team lost 1-0 at the same venue at the same stage of the competition last season.

‘I think the task is going to be equally difficult, but I think we had, watching it back, a really strong performance here.

‘The margin that we lost the game by was a penalty – obviously we all saw what happened there, and were very disappointed.

‘We’re going to know tomorrow how they set up. We have a very clear idea of what we have to do to win the game, and what we need to apply to be better than them.’

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^ ^ Tottenham make Thomas Frank decision before Champions League clash

Thomas Frank is fighting to save his job at Tottenham manager (Picture: Getty)

Thomas Frank is expected to remain in charge of Tottenham and will take training ahead of Tuesday night’s Champions League game against Borussia Dortmund.

The under-fire Spurs boss is battling to save his job after a miserable run of results culminated in Saturday’s demoralising 2-1 home defeat to WestHam.

Key figures at the north London club are weighing up whether to call time on his tenure, but it is understood that he has, for now, earned a stay of execution.

The weekend setback appeared to have pushed the former Brentford boss towards the exit door, with supporters chanting ‘you’re getting sacked in the morning’ following an eighth defeat in 14 matches.

Frank claimed to have ‘the trust of everyone’ in Saturday’s post-match press conference, but talks have taken place at Tottenham over whether Frank would remain in charge for tomorrow night’s vital European match.

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The Danish coach took training on Sunday at the club’s Hotspur Way facility and will do so again this afternoon before facing the media.

Chief executive Vinai Venkatesham has so far kept faith in Frank with this viewed as a transitional season, but the former Arsenal executive acknowledged this campaign had ‘fallen short’ of where they wanted to be in an open letter to fans on Saturday.

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After loud boos serenaded Tottenham Hotspur Stadium for yet another occasion this season, Frank remained defiant.

Asked about the South Stand chants, Frank admitted: ‘Of course, I’ve probably had better times. It’s probably not the best time of course, but I understand, I’m the man in charge, so the blame will go to me. That’s fair.

‘No problem in that sense. As long as they are backing the players, doing everything they can to support them and drive them forward, that’s what we do and we will keep going forward.

‘If you’re not winning enough, we know you will not get enough support from the fans, but when we’re winning, it will change. When we start winning again, which we will do. I’m not in doubt of that.

Spurs and Thomas Frank suffered a shock home defeat against West Ham (Picture: Getty)

‘I think you all saw the game today, we could easily have won this one 2-1. I think it’s no excuses, but also the reason we’re a little bit down to the bare bones with players and we also need some of the offensive players to score a goal or two.

‘All that is difficult for me to do like that and click with a finger, but I can promise that I’m sitting here, giving everything, every single day. I feel the trust from everyone and there’s only one way, we need to keep going.”

Frank was quizzed on his team selection being leaked on Friday night but brushed it off as ‘not optimal’ and again reiterated the backing of Venkatesham.

Callum Wilson scored a late winner for West Ham against Tottenham (Picture: Getty)

‘What I take out of that letter is that a club and an executive team with Vinai on top that are aligned and know this is a big transitional phase. It’s a super-tanker we’re turning in the right direction,’ Frank insisted.

‘There are a lot of good signs behind the scenes and also in some of the performances, but of course when you lose last-minute to one of your rivals, it is very emotional football and there will be noise.

‘That noise we need to keep out there (away) and get our head down and keep walking, keep doing the right thing.’

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^ ^ Manchester United make decision on Joshua Zirkzee deal, confirms Roma chief

A January exit for Joshua Zirkzee has been derailed by Manchester United’s managerial changes (Picture: Getty Images)

Joshua Zirkzee has been strongly linked with a move to Roma during the transfer window, but Manchester United have ended the possibility of a deal.

The Netherlands international has made 14 Premier League appearances this season, but just four of them have come in the starting XI.

After the summer arrivals of Benjamin Sesko, Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo the forward had fallen down the pecking order and a January departure became a possibility.

The 24-year-old was regularly linked with a loan move to Roma over the first half of the season, with reports suggesting that he had even agreed the switch to the Serie A side.

There has been a change of heart in Manchester, though, with the Red Devils deciding against letting Zirkzee move to the Italian capital.

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Roma’s director of football, Frederic Massara, has spoken out about the situation, saying the Premier League giants have taken a firm stance in recent weeks.

‘Manchester United said no quite clearly a couple of weeks ago and they have not changed their minds,’ he said via the BBC.

Zirkzee has scored two goals this season (Picture: Getty Images)

Manchester United took their stance on Zirkzee amid the uncertainty in the dugout over January as Ruben Amorim was sacked, replaced by caretaker Darren Fletcher, who has now been replaced by interim boss Michael Carrick.

After an impressive 2-0 win over Manchester City on Saturday, Carrick’s options in attack actually look quite good, with Mbeumo and Amad back from the Africa Cup of Nations.

Sesko, who had shown good goal-scoring form under Fletcher, was an unused substitute in the rousing victory at Old Trafford.

Bryan Mbeumo was back from AFCON with a bang on Saturday (Picture: Getty Images)

With nearly two weeks left of the transfer window, there remains the possibility that Manchester United could change their stance on Zirkzee and decide he is surplus to requirements, especially as they only have Premier League football for the rest of the season.

The Dutchman missed the win over Manchester City, but it was due to a knock and not any ongoing transfer business.

Roma have made moves away from Zirkzee, signing Donyell Malen from Aston Villa and Robinio Vaz from Marseille.

Donyell Malen completed his move to Roma last week (Picture: Getty Images)

Of their new arrivals, Massara said: ‘These are two strong players, obviously one is a young talent with prospects, the other is an international who already has a name on the European stage.

‘There are still 15 days left of the transfer window and we’ll try to be ready for any opportunities, but we’ll have to see how the situation evolves.’

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